Relay



July 28, 1942. os 2,291,239

RELAY Filed Nov. 27, 1940 [0) /Z ly/3 /6 INSULA 7' ION 5 5 7 4 6 INSULATION L i ll Il -lllllll FIG. 2

INVENTOA E. LAKATOS ATTORNEY Patentecl July 28, 1942 RELAY Emory Lakatos, New York, N. Y., assignor to Bell Telephone York, N. Y.,

Laboratories, Incorporated, New a corporation of New York Application November 27, 1940, Serial No. 367,342

6 Claims.

This invention relates torelays and more particularly to relays of the general type disclosed in Patent No. 2,212,830, granted August 27, 1940, to C. N. Hickman and E. Lakatos, and in the application Serial No. 367,338 of C. N. Hickman and EtLakatos, filed concurrently herewith in which each work circuit controlled by the relay is established by the conductive engagement of an armature witharelay core or pole-piece member.

Relays of thetypes above. referred to are quick operating, that is, fast to close their contacts upon operation and fast toopen their contacts upon release. It is often desirable to delay the closure or opening of relay contacts for a short interval andthis is usually accomplished by providing the relay with a second short-circuited winding, oftenin theform of a copper sleeve, surrounding the relay core. However, when a relay is so constructed, all of its contacts are similarly rendered slow to. close or slow to open.

With the laminated structures disclosed in the patent and copending application hereinbefore referred to which, in effect, comprise a plurality of relay units having a common energizing coil, it is possible to provide that certain of such units shall retain their ability to operate and to release quickly, to provide that others of such units shall be slow to operate and fast to release, and that still others of such units shall be quick to operate butslow to release. It is, therefore, the object of the present invention to providea relay structure, the contacts of which may be rendered fast or slow to operate and fast or slow to release inasimple and eflicient manner.

This object is obtained in-a relay of the type disclosed in the patent-above referred to by surrounding the front pole-pieces of the core laminations of such magnetic circuit units as it is desired to render fast to operate and slow to release their associated armatures with a copper sleeve interposed between'such pole-pieces and the relay coil which also surrounds such polepieces, or by surrounding the rear pole-pieces of the core laminations of such magnetic circuit units as it is desired to render slow to operate and fast to release their associated armatures with a copper sleeve. All other magnetic circuit units which are not provided with sleeves function in their usual manner to render their associated armatures fast to operate and fast to release.

This object is attained in a relay of the type disclosed in the copending application hereinbefore referred to by surrounding the reed armatures of such of the magnetic circuit units as it is desired to render slow to operate and slow to release with a copper sleeve interposed between such armatures and the relay coil which surrounds all of the reed armatures. The remaining reed armatures not so surrounded by the copper sleeve function in the normal manner, that is, are both fast to operate and fast to release.

For a clearer understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a relay constructed in accordance with the present invention, certain of the armature spring fingers and armatures being omitted to better disclose one of the copper sleeves;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along section line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of a modified type of relay embodying the present invention; and,

Fig. 4 is a front end view of the relay disclosed in Fig. 3.

Considering first the embodiment of the invention disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2, the relay comprises an assembly of a plurality of magnetic circuit units of the type disclosed in Patent No. 2,212,830, above referred to, each comprising a core lamination l of magnetic material having two pole-pieces 2 and 3 extending upwardly from its upper edge near its forward end, an armature spring lamination 4 and an interposed lamination 5 of insulating material such as hard rubber or fiber. The several units. are assembled side by side and insulated from each other by spacing laminations 6 of insulating material such as hard rubber or fiber. Laminations 'l of insulating material are positioned outside of the units of the assembly and a coil terminal lug 8 is positioned outside each of the laminations I and the entire assembly is clamped between the end blocks 9 and ll] of hard rubber and the end plates l i and I2 by the bolts I3 which extend through aligned holes in the end plates, the end blocks, the coil terminal lugs, the spacing laminations and the laminations of the units. The bolts are surrounded by sleeves M of insulating material whereby they are effectively insulated from the core and armature spring laminations and coil terminal lugs through which they pass.

The end plates II and I2 are provided at their rear ends Without-turned flanges l5 and it, re-

spectively, by means of which the relay may be bolted to a suitable relay or apparatus rack.

Each core lamination is stamped from a sheet of suitable magnetic material into the T-shape disclosed most clearly in Fig. 2 and comprises a horizontal portion I'I having two pole-piece, portions 2 and 3 and a rear portion l8 provided with a rearwardly extending soldering terminal lug l9. Alternate ones of the core laminations have their terminal lugs in the vertical positions disclosed by the lugs l9 and intermediate laminations have their lugs positioned as illustrated by the lugs 20 whereby the lugs are staggered as disclosed in Fig. 2 to give greater clearance between the lugs of adjacent laminations for enabling conductors to be more readily soldered thereto and to eliminate the possibility of cross-connections between laminations. The pole faces of the pole-pieces 2 and 3 are slanted as disclosed in Fig. 2 and preferably have contact bars 2| welded thereto.

Each spring lamination 4 is stamped from a sheet of nickel silver and is also T-shaped and comprises a horizontal portion provided with two portions on the forward end thereof corresponding to the pole-pieces of the core laminations and a vertical rear portion which is provided with two rearwardly extending soldering terminal lugs 22 and 23. Alternate ones of the spring laminations have their terminal lugs in the positions illustrated by lugs 22 and 23 of Fig. 2, whereas intermediate laminations have their lugs positioned as illustrated by the lugs 24 and 25 whereby the lugs are staggered to give greater clearance between the lugs of adjacent laminations to prevent cross-connections and to enable conductors to be more readily soldered thereto. Each spring lamination is bent at right angles along its upper edge and the bent-over portion is severed from the body of the lamination along the major portion of its length to form a spring finger 26 which extends forwardly at an angle of approximately 20 degrees to the upper edge of the horizontal portion of the lamination.

Welded or otherwise secured to the lower face of the finger 26 at its outer or free end is a short bar armature 21 of magnetic material. The lower face of this armature has contact bars 28 welded thereto in positions to cooperate with the contact bars 2|, welded to the pole-pieces 2 and 3 of the associated core laminations I.

As previously stated, each magnetic circuit element also includes a lamination of insulating material interposed between the core lamination l and the spring lamination 4. This lamination is of the same general shape as the core and spring laminations but the rear or vertical portion thereof is slightly wider than the rear portions of the other laminations to afford better insulating protection. The spacing laminations 6 and 1 may also be of the same general shape as the lamination 5. When each unit is assembled the forwardly extending spring finger 26 will overlie the upper edge of the associated core lamination as best disclosed in Fig. l and the armature 2! will overlie the pole faces of the polepie-ces 2 and 3 of the core lamination.

When all of the units are assembled with the spacing laminations 6 and 1, the end blocks 9 and Hi, the coil terminal lugs 8 and the end plates H and IE, and have been clamped together by the bolts l3, a short-circuited winding or copper sleeve 29 is so placed as to be insulated from but to surround the front pole-pieces 2 of the core laminations of such magnetic circuit units as it is desired to render their armatures quick to operate and slow to release and an operating coil 30 is placed over the sleeve 29 and the front polepieces 2 of the core laminations I of all of the units. The short-circuited winding or copper sleeve 3| is also so placed as to be insulated from but to surround the rear pole-pieces 3 of the core laminations of such units as it is desired to render their armatures slow to to operate and quick to release. The ends of the coil winding are connected to the outer ends of the coil terminal lugs 8. The end blocks 9 and I0 interposed between the terminal lugs 8 and the end plates H and I2 afford clearance for the ends of the coil 30.

To afford a backstop for the armatures 21 of all the relay units, a bar 32 of insulating material extends transversely across the front of the relay and is engaged in slots in the forward ends of the end plates l I and I2.

In the operation of the relay when the coil 30 is energized, all of the core laminations I become magnetized and attract their associated armatures into conductive engagement therewith thereby establishing a plurality of work circuits, each work circuit extending from a core lamination through thhe attracted armature to the spring lamination to which the armature is secured. Since the pole-pieces of the two middle core laminations are not surrounded by copper sleeves, the armatures associated therewith will be quickly attracted thereto and since the coil 30 surrounds the front pole-pieces 2 of all the core laminations, flux will build up quickly in the front pole-pieces of the upper two core laminations, as viewed in Fig. 1, whereby the armatures associated therewith will be quickly attracted. However, with the rear pole-pieces 3 of the lower two core laminations, as viewed in Fig. 1, surrounded by the copper sleeve 3|, flux will build up more slowly therein whereby the armatures associated therewith will be slow to become attracted. Upon the deenergization of the coil 30, the armatures associated with the middle two and lower two laminations will release quickly since the flux will decay quickly in the pole-pieces thereof but the decay of the flux in the front pole-pieces of the two upper laminations surrounded by the sleeve 29 will be slower, whereby the armatures associated therewith will be slow to release. All of the armatures in their fully released posit ons engage against the lower edge of the backstop bar 32 in which position all of the work circuits are opened.

It is thus apparent that by the addition of the copper sleeves 29 and 3| a relay structure is provided which has contact combinations having three different operating and releasing characteristics, that is, fast to operate and fast to release, fast to operate and slow to release and slow to operate and fast to release.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4, the invention has been illustrated in connection with a relay of the general type disclosed in the application hereinbefore referred to. This relay comprises a plurality of magnetic circuit units, each comprising a field lamination 4| of magnetic material, an armature lamination 42 of magnetic material and an interposed lamination 43 of insulating material. The several units are assembled side by side as disclosed in Fig. 4 and insulated from each other by spacing laminations 44 and 51 of insulating material such as hard rubber or fiber. Laminations 45 of insulating material are positioned outside of the units of the assembly and the coil terminal lugs 46 are positioned outside of the laminations 45 and the entire assembly is then clamped between the strips of insulating material '41 and the supporting brackets 48 and '49 by the screws which extend through aligned holes in the bracket 48, insulating strips 41, insulating laminations 43, 44, 45 and '51, the armature laminations 42 and the field laminations 4| into tapped-holes in the bracket-49. The screws are surrounded by sleeves of insulating material (not shown) whereby they are effectively insulated from the armature and field laminations and the coil terminal lugs through which they pass.

Each field lamination 4| is stamped from a sheet of suitable magnetic material into a substantially inverted U-shape having a rear arm which serves as a means of attachment between the supporting brackets 48 and 49 and has a soldering terminal 53 extending rearwardly therefrom, a horizontal portion 54 and a front arm 55 which serves as a pole-piece and which is provided with a pair of contact bars welded thereto.

Each armature lamination 42 is substantially L-shaped, the rear or vertical arm of which serves as a means of attachment between the supporting brackets 48 and 49 and has a soldering terminal 56 extending rearwardly therefrom and the horizontal arm which is in the form of a spring reed. This reed is bifurcated at its free end and has contact bars welded to the two sections thereof thus formed which are positioned to cooperate with the contact bars carried by the pole-pieces of the associated field lamination 4| as best disclosed in Fig. 4.

As previously stated, each magnetic circuit unit also includes a lamination 43 of insulating material interposed between the field lamination 4| and the armature lamination 42. These laminations and the insulating strips 4! are rectangular in shape and are slightly larger than the base arms of the armature and field laminations to afford better insulation protection. The spacing laminations 44 which are interposed between the adjacent pairs of field laminations 4|, as shown most clearly in Fig. 4, are of substantially the same shape as the field laminations 4| and the spacing lamination 51 which is interposed between the two inner armature reeds is of substantially the same shape as the armature laminations.

The brackets 48 and 49 are also L-shaped, the base portions of which serve to clamp the assembly previously described and have out-turned flanges 5| and 52, respectively, by means of which the relay may be attached to a suitable relay or apparatus rack and the horizontal arms 58 and 59 of which serve as supports for the relay coil 60.

The coil 60 is supported on the ends of arms 58 and 59 of the brackets 48 and 49 just back of the pole-piece arms 55 of the field laminations 4| and the ends of the armature reeds 42 extend through the center thereof. The ends of the coil winding are conencted to the outer ends of the coil terminal lugs 46 in any suitable manner. To render the armature reeds 42 of certain of the units both slow to operate and slow to release, a short circuited winding or copper sleeve BI is supported within the coil 60 and surrounding such armatures while permiting them to move freely.

In the operation of this relay when the C011 60 is energized, the pole-pieces 55 of all of the field laminations 4| will be magnetized to one polarity and the ends of the armature reeds 42 will be magnetized to the opposite polarity,

whereupon the reed armatures will become attracted into conductive engagement'through the contact bars carried thereby and the contact bars carried by the pole-pieces 55 of the field laminations, thereby establishing a plurality of work circuits. Since, however, certain of the reed armatures are also surrounded'by the copper sleeve 6|, the attraction of such armatures :is delayed, thereby resulting in slow contact closures. The remaining reed armatures, however, are operated quickly to effectfast contact closures. Upon the deenergization of the coil 60, the'reed armatures which are not surrounded by the sleeve 5| re-- tract quickly, effecting fast contact openings, but the reed armatures which are surrounded by the sleeve 6| retract slowly, effecting slow contact openings.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the applicant has provided a very simple and inexpensive means for securing different operating and releasing characteristics in the same relay structure. While the invention has been disclosed in connection with relay structures having only normally open contact paths, it will be obvious that it may be applied equally well to relays of the same general character that have normally closed transfer, continuity other types of contact combinations.

What is claimed is:

1. In a relay, a plurality of magnetic circuit units each comprising a field lamination of magnetic material and an armature conductively insulated therefrom and attractable into conductive engagement therewith, laminations of insulating material interposed between adjacent units, a common energizing coil for said units effective upon its energization to establish a separate circuit path from the field lamination through the armature of each of said units, and a short-circuited winding associated with certain of said units for delaying the attraction of othe armatures thereof to delay the closing of the circuit paths controlled thereby.

2. In a relay, a plurality of magnetic circuit units each comprising a field lamination of magnetic material and an armature conductively insulated therefrom and attractable into conductive engagement therewith, laminations of insulating material interposed between adjacent units, a common energizing coil for said units effective upon its energization to establish a separate circuit path from the field of lamination through the armature of each of said units, and a short-circuited winding associated with certain of said units for delaying the release of the armatures thereof to delay the opening of the circuit paths controlled thereby.

3. In a relay, a plurality of magnetic circuit units each comprising a core lamination of magnetic material having a plurality of pole-pieces, an armature supporting spring lamination having an armature secured thereto and attractable into conductive engagement with the pole-pieces of the associated core lamination and a lamination of insulating material interposed between said spring lamination and said core lamination, laminations of insulating material interposed between adjacent units, an energizing coil for said units surrounding corresponding pole-pieces of all of said units effective upon its energization to establish a separate circuit path from the spring lamination through the armature to the core lamination of each of said units, and a shortcircuited winding interposed between said coil and the pole-pieces of certain of said units for delaying the release of the armatures thereof to delay the opening of the circuit paths controlled thereby.

4. In a relay, a plurality of magnetic circuit units each comprising a core lamination of magnetic material having a pair of pole-pieces, an armature supporting spring lamination having an armature secured thereto and attractable into conductive engagement with the pole-pieces of the associated core lamination and a lamination of insulating material interposed between said spring lamination and said core lamination, laminations of insulating material interposed between adjacent units, an energizing coil for said units surrounding corresponding pole-pieces of all of said units and effective upon its energization to establish a separate circuit path from the spring lamination through the armature to the core lamination of each of said units, and a shortcircuited winding surrounding the corresponding other pole-pieces of certain of said units for delaying the attraction of the armatures thereof to delay the closure of the circuit paths controlled thereby.

5. In a relay, a plurality of magnetic circuit units, each comprising a core lamination of magnetic material having a pair of pole-pieces, an armature upporting spring lamination having an armature secured thereto and attractable into conductive engagement with the pole-pieces of the associated core lamination and a lamination of insulating material interposed between said spring lamination and said core lamination, laminations of insulating material interposed between adjacent units, an energizing coil for said units surrounding corresponding pole-pieces of all of said units and efiective upon its energization to establish a separate circuit path from the spring lamination through the armature to the core lamination of each of said units, a hort-circuited winding interposed between said coil and the pole-pieces of certain of said units for delaying the release of the armatures thereof to delay the opening of the circuit paths controlled thereby and a short-circuited winding surrounding the corresponding other pole-pieces of others of said units for delaying the attraction of the armatures thereof to delay the closure of the circuit paths controlled thereby.

6. In a relay, a plurality of magnetic circuit units each comprising a field lamination of magnetic material having a pole-piece, an armature lamination of magnetic material having a reed portion and an interposed lamination of insulating material, laminations of insulating material interposed between said units, an energizing coil for said units surrounding the reed portions of the armature laminations thereof and effective upon its energization to establish a separate circuit path from the field lamination to the armature lamination of each of said units and a shortcircuited winding interposed between said coil and the reed portions of the armature laminations of certain of said units for delaying the attraction and release of the armature reeds thereof to delay the closure and the opening of the circuit paths controlled thereby.

EMORY LAKATOS. 

